Refrigerating apparatus



June 18,1940. I L. A. PHILIPP.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed may 51, 19s4= 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR. Lanes/r01: 4. P/l/L/PP mm; MXM

J1me 1940-. L. A. PHILIPP REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Origihal Filed May 31,1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Aqupzzrcz 1y. PHIL/PP BY llllllllllI'Illilllflifllllll! 3 7 lllllllllllllllllllllllllll 1| IIIIIIIIIlllllllllll I WWVWK ATTORNEY.

4 Sheets-Sheet *5 \INVENTQR.

' ATTORNEY.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll I a I I I L A PHILIPP REFRIGERATINGAPPARATUS O i'i'ginal Filed May 31; 1934 F 51940. UL: A. PHIALIPP I5,364

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Ma :51, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4mvzu'roa. Law/gem:- 4 PH ATTORNEY.

Patented June 18, 1940 V 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nrzrarcnim'rmcmlinnrns Lawrence A. Philipp, Detroit, Mich, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Maryland Application May 31, 1934, sol-n1 no. accessRenewed March 9, 193'! 15 Claims, (01. 02-119- My invention pertains torefrigerator -comside mounted modification of the cooling unitv pressorand evaporating units and more particstructure; I,

. ularly to a non-frosting two temperature refrig-' Fig- 10 is a Sectona V n line thereof;

erator cooling and freezing structure united with Fig. 1-1 is across-sectional view on line XI,XI a compressor unit. thereof; 1 w

It is an object of my invention to provide a Fig. 12 is a sectional viewtaken through a renon-frosting refrigerator cooling structure whichfrigerator cabinet showing a modification of my is especially effectiveand bonvenient for use in invention comp s a Se da y ys em; a d twotemperature systems. Fig. 1-3 is a diagrammatic view representing the Itis also an object of my invention to provide cooperative relation of thevarious elements as 10 a' unitary refrigerator cooling structure.comprisinterconnected in my two temperature refrigerating cooling meansand freezing means normally ing system.

mounted in separate compartments of a refrig- Referring morespecifically to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and erator cabinet in such a manner thattheymay 4 of the drawings the structure, as shown, combe convenientlyremoved as a unit. prises a refrigerator cabinet I of the usual heat 15-It is a further object of my invention to proinsulating constructionincluding a removable vide a non-frosting refrigerator cooling strucheatinsulating closure member 2 which is supture in which the heat absorbingelements in the ported on hinges 3 at one side of the cabinet inseparate freezing and food storage compartments the usual manner. A heatinsulating-wall I9 .20 are conveniently removable with the compressorhorizontally disposed between a food'compartg as a unit for shipping andinstallation, while the ment' 5 and a machine compartment 5 includesporcelain partition member enclosing the freeza removable portion Icomprising abase mounting chamber remains permanently mounted in ingmember on which the compressor machine the cabinet for protection. unitand the associated elements are removably 5 The invention itself,however, both as to its mounted in the cabinet. The machine unitcomorganization and its method of operation; together prises acompressor enclosed in a suitable herwith additional objects andadvantages thereof, metically Sealed Cas d interconnected will best beunderstood from the following det ou h suita e con uit m an I w th theusual scription of specific embodiments, whe read in condenser forcompressing and condensing the l conjunction iththe accompanyingdrawings, in refrigerant. From the condenser It the refrigh h; erantpasses through a conduit l5 to a high side Fig. 1 is a verticalsectional view taken transfloat Valve as will more fullyset forthversely through a refrigerator cabinet provided, sequenfll A fanadjacent the l4. withaunitary-non-frosting two temperature 0001-circulates air therethrough and the machm'e ing unit in accordance withmy invention; comp 't e may be Pmvidd with Vents in the 35 Fig. 2 is asectional 'view taken on line II--II usual The p essor maybe conofFig.1; trolled to operate intermittently in accordance.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line with thefiempevlatlll'econditions Within e r 111 111 thereof; M I frigerator cabinet by aheatresponsiveswitch in Fig. 4 is a perspective viewshowing a partitionthe usual manner- I In accordance with my invention the interl i g 213:3852?s loi i f i sig i z transfitting surfaces between the edges ofthe remov' able heat insulating base I, and the adjacent par- I verselythrough remgerato? Showmg. aqotyer tition or wall l9 are beveledwherebythe weight .embodment of cooler mm of the compressor machine thereonforces them 5 u n. P catfme into close fitting relation. A gasket 22 ofyield- 6 1s a sectmnal on able material, such as rubber for example, is

thereof; I provided between the interfitting beveled sur- F 7 3 asectlonal'vlew slmwmga sw faces to insure that a well sealed contact ises-.

, tional view taken on line VII-VII thereof; tablished. I H a c Fig. 8is a detail view showing the finned cool- The f nd compartment 5 i ledby finned ing p t Structure cooling the food pa defrosting coolingplates 24 which are suspended ment; Y on suitable supports 25 from thelower side of the Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view takentransremovable .base member I. Heat absorbing fins s versely through arefrigerator cabinet showing a 25 are provided on the cooling: plates 24by se- 5 I 'Qflfinfi channel shaped metallic: strips 21 inintiniate:thermoconductives relation thereon in I structure ofsubstantially ,U. shaped cross secany suitable manner as by welding orsoldering. The heatis carried away from the cooling plates by passing arefrigerant through coils of suitable conduit secured thereto inheat-conductive relation.

A portion of the food compartment space 5 within the cabinet'is enclosedas a freezing cham-- ber ll, by a partition member 3| which ispermanently secured tothe cabinet structure. The

partition member 3| is preferably a sheet metal tion closed at one endas shown in Fig. 4, and it is preferably provided with a hardcoating of'vitreous enamel such as porcelain to present a pleasing appearance.Wide flanges 32 project laterally from the open edges of the partitionmember adjacent the open end of the U and are provided with holes 33 toreceive screws or other fastening means for securing the partitionmember permanently to'the upper'wall of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 1..

The partition member II is mounted directly beneath thecompressor unitassembly,-and the wide flanges 32 along the sides of the permanentlymounted partition member are provided withelongated slots 34 throughwhich the cool-.- ingplates, depending from the: removable machine base1 may be readily inserted or with-- drawn as the compressor unit isinstalled, or removed for shipping. The front openings of the freezingchamber 3. are definedby a front plate 31 which may be secured to lugs38 projecting .laterally from the front edge thereof.

The front plate is preferably providedwith a porcelain-finish and is ofpleasing contour having aperipheral curved or tapered flange or skirt toconceal the edge of the partitionmember and the adjacent coolingplatesllfi The freezing chamber enclosed within thepon celain partitionmember is cooled by freezing plates ll which are secured together inparallel horizontally disposedxelation and supported by suitablebrackets 42 depending downwardly from the compressor base I. Thefreezing plates comprise shelves for the reception of various articles aor freezing trays '40, as shown in Fig. '6, and they are connectedtogether by conduits 4! in order' that refrigerant may be passedtherethrough.

Each of the freezing plates ll "may comprise a hollow chamber forthevaporization of the refrigerant, or each hollow plate may: enclose abrine or other heat storing medium surrounding coils of conduit throughwhich the'refrigerant may pass in the usual manner.

It will be apparent that thefreezing plate assembly-within thepermanently mounted porcelain chamber, together with theflnned coolingplates adjacent the outer surface thereof may be readily removed we unitwith the compressor,

since they are all rigidly=secured to the heatinsulating machine base I.When the unit is installed the freezing plates shelves II 'are loweredtothelr proper positions adjacent the openings in the front of thefreezingchamber, the finned cooling plates 24 areinserted through theelongated slots 34 adjacent the. outer sidewall surfaces of the freezingchamber-and the weight of the compressor machine on theheat insulatingbase 1 causes itsbeveled edge surfaces to .be wedged into tight sealedengagement with the.

' adjacent beveled surfaces of the upper wall of the refrigeratorcabinet.

The plates tion member.

4| and me cooling plates mosses- 24 are operatively interconnected inseries rela- I tion through suitable conduit means for the pas- J sageof refrigerant therethrough.

In accordance with another embodiment of'my invention a finned coolingunit his provided between the rear wall of the f chamber and thecabinet. By this arrangement the cooling plate is concealed behind thefreezing chammay be entirely omitted or made relatively'narrow. Thefront plate 8! is narrower and more useful storage space is available.The inter connection-of the elements of the system is similar to thatset" forth previously and shown in Fig., 12, except that a singlecooling plate is used. The cabinet is cooled by the finned cooling plate6| andpartly from the freezing chamber 62.

l'nanother modification especially suitable for small refrigerators, mynon-frosting two temperature cooling unit may be mounted at one side ofthe cabinet thereby creating a compact structure as shown 1nFigs. 9,110, and 11. In

accordance with this modification a removable machine base ll comprising.a portion of the upper heatinsulating wall 12 of the food com' partmentis disposed adjacent one side wall of thecabinet, which alsoserves asone of the enclosing walls of the freezing'chamber ll. A porcelainpartition member 14 which encloses the freezing chamber 18 comprises astructure of substantially L shaped cross section as. shown inthesectional view in Fig. 9. Flanges Ii project- 1 ing laterally from thepartition member'are p'ro-' J videdflwith apertures through whichfastening means 11 may operatively engage the rear-wall l8 permanentlysupportthe partiof the cabinet to In this simplifledconstruction therear wall of the cabinet also encloses the rear of the free z-.

ing chamber 13 The front edge of the partition member is provided witha. lateral flange II for securing a front plate 82. A baiile plate 83 isalso provided in parallel spaced relation to the side wall of thefreezing chamber to control the air circulation and it is supportedbetween the front plate I! and the rear wall I! of the cabi- A dripplate is provided to drain the moisture from the unit and it issupported in paring; chamber 13 between-the front plate 02 and the'rea-rwall of the cabinet to which it may be- 7 secured by'a flange ll clampedby the fastening -means I! which also secures the partition unit 14. Itis also desirable to provide an auxiliary net to which it is secured bysuitable flangesll.-

allel spaced relation to, the bottom of the freezdrip deflecting stripll adjacent the side wall of i the refrigerator under the freezingchamber.

The adjacent edges of the drip strip 9| and-the drip plate .0 arepreferable turned downwardly to facilitate drainage into the usual drippan II which issupported. on a shelf 08 in the usual manner.

'In masr'mgmen a in those previously described the freezing plates IIare suspended from the removable machine base portion ll of theuppercabinet wall by suitable brackets 42. A single flnned cooling Plate24 is..suspe nded from the machine II by a suitable bracket memberillbetween the baflie plate 83 and the -tion with the freezing and sidewall of the freezing chamber.

Whcn'the compressor and the associated elements mounted on the machinebase are re- 7 moved, the freezing plate M and the cooling plate 24 arewithdrawn as a unit from the porcclain partition member I4 whichvispermanently secured to the cabinet. As shown in Fig. 10 the freezingplates 4I serveas shelves to support the freezing trays 40 within thefreezing chamber and to provide a freezing compartment at the bottom ofthe chamber. -The various elements of the compressor unit are mountedupon the heat insulated base in.interconnected relacoolin'g elements inthe cabinet.

In Fig. 12 I'have shown an embodiment of my invention in which thecooling plate 'Illl for cooling the food compartment is mounted withinthe freezing chamber enclosed by theiporcelain par- I tition member I02..Thc outward surface of the cooling plate IOI is of flat smoothformation adapted to fit in close. thermal abutting relation against theinside of the freezing chamber wall.

The cooling plate may be lifted freely from the chamber with theremovable condenser :unit assembly from which it is suspended. Thecooling plate is connected to receive refrigerant from the condenserwhich also supplies the freezing plates in the freezing chamber as inthe previous embodiments. Asealed evaporator I04 is rigidly secured onthe outside of the freezing chamber of vaporization is transmitted andit is then dis sipated by the associated system.- The refrigerantcondenser and compressor are removable as a unit with the cooling plateIIII and the freezing plates 4| by simply lifting the structure upwardlyfrom the cabinet.

In operation the refrigerant compressor unit I2 may supply liquefiedrefrigerant to the heat absorbing elements through a system such as thatdiagrammatically represented in Fig. 13. The compressor pumpsrefrigerant vapor under high pressure into the condenser I4 and thecondensed refrigerant from the condenser I4 passes through the floatregulating valve I6 into the coils of the finned cooling plate 24positioned adjacent one side of the freezing chamber. After therefrigerant expands through the coils'of' the cooling plate, aninterconnected conduit carries it through a pressure reducing weightvalve 49' into the freezing plates 4I within the freezing chamber. Therefrigerant then passes through the freezing plates 4| or coils thereinprovided in series relation through interconnected conduits 45. From thelast freezing plate of the series the refrigerant vapor" is drawnthrough a suction line 53 to the compressor I2. The pressure reducingwcightvalvc 48 through which the refrigerant passes between the coolingplate and the freezing plates serves to operatethe respective freezingand cooling elementsat different pressures and consequently at differenttemperatures in accordance with the selected .or adjustedcharacteristics of the valve. The preferredop crating temperature of thecoolingplate is such that it will defrost between operating cycles. In

the embodiment of Fig. 12 the operating temperature of the. coolingplate. IOI is preferably such that the secondary evaporator may defrostbetween cycles. This provides a, nonfrost element for coolingcirculating air in the food com- I partm'ent.

' Although the connection of the cooling plates andgthe freezing platesin series relation pro-' vides a convenient system it will be apparentthat the respective cooling and freezing elements may also be arrangedin parallel if desired. At times .it may be desirable toconnectthesuction line to the cooling element andpass the high pressurerefrigerant first into the freezing plates. A drip pan is provided on ashelf under the freezing chamber in the usual manner.

The arrangement and adjustment of the system to provide varioustemperatures within the two temperature zones may be readilyaccomplished by suitably adjusting or selecting 'the various elementssuch as the pressure reducing valveand the compressor unit elements. Iprefer to so select and adjust the elements of my system that thecooling plates will operate at such temperatures that frosting isavoided or defrosting is accomplished automatically between P operationsof the compressor. v

It will be seen that I, haveprovided a nonfrosting refrigerator coolingunit which may be advantageously utilized in combination with a twotemperature system and a cabinet structure comprising a permanentlymounted porcelain freezing chamber whereby the heat absorbing elementsnormally mounted in the-separate freezing and food storage compartmentsare eonven iently removable with the compressor as a unit. for shippingand installation, while the porcelain -'partition member enclosingthefreezing chamber [remains permanently mounted in the cabinet forprotection.

While it is necessary for the purposes of illustration to describe theseveral disclosed-forms of my invention in detail, it will be apparentthat the invention is not so limited and that other forms andapplications thereof are embraced within the scope of the appendedclaims I claim as my invention: *1. Incombination in a refrigerator,heat -insulating walls enclosing a food compartment, an

, adjacent machine compartment, a base mounting member comprising aremovable portionof the adjacent .hcat insulating wall, arefrigerantcompressor unit in themachine compartment mounted on said base member, apartition member in said food compartmentenclosing a freez-- ingchamber, flanges projecting from the upper edges of the partition memberlaterally beyond" the removable base memberfor permanently securing saidpartition member to. the cabinet, a coating of vitreous enamel on saidpartition member, cooling means supported from the base member, in anoperative position adjacent said member, freezing means. supported from'said base member within said chamber, an operativcly connectedrefrigerant compressormounted on said base member whereby theporcelaincoated partition member remains protected in the cabi- '70 netwhen the compressor assembly is removedfor shipping. v

2. In combination in a refrigerator, heat insulating walls enclosing afood compartment, an

adjacent machine compartment, a removable base mounting membercomprising a removable from the removable base member into the freezingcompartment. g

. 3. A freezing chamber partitionmember com- 1 prising a sheet metalstructure of substantially U-shaped cross-section closed at one end,wide flanges-projecting laterally from the open end of the U forsecuring the member to a cabinet, apertures in said flanges whereinquick removable cooling means may pass freely adjacent the externalsurfaces of the side wallsof the freezing chamber.

4. In combination .with a refrigerator including a heat insulatedcabinet and a refrigerant compressor unit. mounted upon'a removable basecomprising a portion of a heat insulating wall of the cabinet, apartition member enclosing a portion of the space within the cabinet fora freezing chamberadjacent the removable base, said if so partitionmember comprising a sheet metal strucf ture of substantially U-shapedcross section,

- means' for' securing the ends of the U-section to the cabinet, coolingmeans suspended from the base to extend freely into the cabinet adjacentthe walls of the freezing chamber, freezing means suspended from thebase to extend freely into the freezing chamber through the openU-section of the partition member, and means operatively connecting therespective cooling means 4) and freezing means with the compressor unit.

5. In combination in a refrigerator, heat insulating walls comprising aheat insulated cabinet, a machine compartment adjacent one of the heatinsulating walls of said cabinet, a removable portion of saidwall compriins a s a refrigerant compressorunit-mounted in saidmachine compartmenton said base, a partition member for enclosing aportion of the spacewithin said cabinet for a freezing chamber, said partition s membercomprising a sheet metal structure of substantially U shapedcross'-section closed at one end, wide flanges projecting laterally fromthe open ends of the U sectionfor securing the partition member to thecabinet, apertures in said .fiisngesthrough which cooling means may passfreely adjacent the external surfaces of the walls of the freezingchamber, cooling means supported from the base to'extend freely into thecabinet through said apertures, freezing means supported from the baseto extend freely into the freezing chamber through the open U sectionof, the partition member, and .means ,operatively connect- I ing 'saidcompressorunit'with the cooling means and the freezing means.

to 6. A freezing chamber partition member comprising a vertical wallhaving a horizontal flange,

' said flange being provided with a cutaway portionto provide a spacefor cooling means to pass I freely adjacent the external'surface of saidver-s 70 than wall to provide for the ready removal of said coolingmeans froma point adjacent said verticalwalL; M

7. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet, partition means. insaid cabinet defining a Q chamber, being provided with an side of saidpartition member.

aaoasea open end for receiving heat absorbing means and said partitionmeans having a cutaway portion "for receiving additional heat absorbingmeans.

8. Refrigerating apparatus comprislnga cabinet having an' opening, sheetmetal partition means in said cabinet defining a chamber, said i chamberhaving an open end in alignment with said cabinet opening,.movable wallstructure ar-'- ranged for closing said cabinet opening," arefrigerant-eva'porating element adjacent said movable wall structureand extending into said chamber, said evaporating elementbeing movablethrough said cabinet opening, said partition means having an openingforsaid chamber and a door for clos-v ing said opening to thereby gainaccess to said-' element.- v

9. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a sheet metal wall, arefrlgerantevaporating element in physical contact with one side of said wall and la second refrigerant evaporating element in physical contact with the'other side of said wall di-. rectly opposite the first element.

7 l0. Refrigerating apparatus. comprising a partition member, heatabsorbing-means including difierentportions located on oneside of saidpartition member, means for maintaining a temperature differentialbetween said different portions, and heat absorbing means locatedon theopposite 11. An evaporator for refrigerating systems so comprising incombination, refrigerant conveying means arranged to define awall of,asharp freezing compartment, a refrigerated shelf disposed horilontallywithin said freezing compartment. for supporting a receptacle adapted tocontain a 'subas stance to be congealed or frozen, a closed chambercontaining a temperature holdover substance adjacent to and in intimatethermal contact with said shelf,"and means for supporting saidrefrigerated shelf and said ,chamber in spaced-relation o, to the walls'of said freezing compartment.

. 12. An evaporator for refrigerating systems comprising in combination,refrigerant conveying means arranged to define a .wall of a sharpfreezing compartment, '9. refrigerated shelf disposed horizontallywithin said freezing compart-' ment forsupporting a receptacle adaptedto contain a substance to be congealed or frozen, 9'.

closed chamber containing a temperature Holdover substance adlacenttoand in intimate thermal contact-with said shelf, and means; forsupporting said refrigerated shelf and said chamber in spaced relationto the walls of said freezing compartment, saidlast named means being'ofa material 'separatejfrom and independent of the walls of saidcompartment and of -the hold-over chamber and-shelf.

13. An evaporator for refrigerating systems comprising in combination,refrigerant conveying means arranged to-define a wall of asharp freezingcompartment, means forming a com bined receptacle receiving shelFandclosed container, saidcombined shelf and container being. L

disposed horizontally within said freezing comm. partment and saidcontainer having a temperature hold-over substance therein, and meansfor supporting'said combined shelf and container in spaced relation tothe walls of said freezing compartment."

,14. An evaporator forrefrigerating systems comprising incombiriation,refrigerant conveyf ing means'arrangedto define a wall of a sharpfreezing compartment, means forming a combined receptacle receivingrefrigerated shelf and temperature holdover element, said' combined 15shelf and element being disposed horizontally within said freezingcompartment, and means for supporting said combined shelf and element inspaced relation to the walls of said freezing compartment.

15. An evaporator for. refrigerating systems comprising in combination,refrigerant conveying means arranged to define a wall of a sharpfreezing compartment, means forming a temperature holdoverelement, saidelement being disposed horizontally within said freezing compartment andproviding a shelf for the reception of a receptacle adapted to contain asubstance to becongealed or frozen; and means for supporting saidelementin spaced relation to the walls of said freezing compartment.

LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP.

